History & Politics
On Being Stranded Near the Harbour of Boulogne
From Memorials of a Tour on the Continent, 1820
Why cast ye back upon the Gallic shore,
Ye furious waves! a patriotic Son
Of England--who in hope her coast had won,
His project crowned, his pleasant travel o'er?
Well--let him pace this noted beach once more,
That gave the Roman his triumphal shells;
That saw the Corsican his cap and bells
Haughtily shake, a dreaming Conqueror!--
Enough: my Country's cliffs I can behold,
And proudly think, beside the chafing sea,
Of checked ambition, tyranny controlled,
And folly cursed with endless memory:
These local recollections ne'er can cloy;
Such ground I from my very heart enjoy!
Cite this poem
MLA
Wordsworth, William. “On Being Stranded Near the Harbour of Boulogne.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/wordsworth/424/.
Chicago
Wordsworth, William. “On Being Stranded Near the Harbour of Boulogne.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/wordsworth/424/.
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